SoundCloud for Musicians: Grow Your Audience Guide 2016

Use this guide to learn all you need to know about the value of SoundCloud for musicians. Is it the right platform for you? How can you get more followers?

Many musicians agree that SoundCloud is a great tool for showing your music to people. Especially, the platform works well with some exclusive material, unofficial releases, and demos. Others think it has lost its potential as a promotion tool. In this article, you’ll find all the up-to-date info about SoundCloud to decide whether you can continue using it or not.

1. The Basics

What is SoundCloud?

“SoundCloud is a global online audio distribution platform based in Berlin, Germany, that enables its users to upload, record, promote, and share their originally-created sounds.” – Wikipedia

How many people are listening to SoundCloud?

According to the latest numbers, there are 40 million registered users on SoundCloud. The platform reaches up to 200 million listeners per month, though – because many don’t bother registering.

How do users get to hear new music on SoundCloud?

Users can follow artists directly and add favorite songs to playlists. This is useful for you if you already have a stable fan base.

Apart from then, users get to see the Top 50 songs on the start page. It’s possible to see the top 50 for each of the genres. Those include Alternative Rock, Classical, Drum & Bass, Folk & Singer-Songwriter, Hip-hop & Rap, Indie, Metal, Rock, Soundtrack and more.

Furthermore, SoundCloud lets you see the New & hot Top 50 – among all genres or for each of them. These are freshly uploaded tracks with many plays. You might end up here if you tag your songs well.

2. How to use SoundCloud for musicians?

How to use SoundCloud for musicians? Find out more in this guide. Photo: Los Porongas by Natan Peres.

Why should you put your music on SoundCloud?

Because it’s an easy way for your fans to listen to your music. And because there are 200 million potential listeners monthly. Convinced? Now it’s just about the right way to reach out to them all.

Is SoundCloud a good way to get noticed?

There are plenty of different platforms you can promote your music on like SoundCloud, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Vine. So for which purposes is SoundCloud helpful?

It’s a social network which puts it focus on music only. No need for deep thoughts or impressive visual skills.

It’s a good way to promote your music to fans. They can listen to your songs, create playlists and follow your music for free. If your fans want to listen to SoundCloud on a mobile devide, they’ll have to download the app.

With a help of som extra tools, consistent promotion, and intensive networking you can expand your audience here.

SoundCloud works especially well with electronic music, hip hop, modern singer-songwriters.

1. Offer high-quality content

Artwork: Create an attractive artwork which works well as a small avatar. This is the picture all followers will see. And it will appear as artwork if you embed the track elsewhere. Choose a picture with at least 800 x 800 pixels. Here are some tips for band photos and a collection of great examples.

Music: Put some great sounding tracks online. Choose wisely as you only have one first impression. You can also post a draft and ask for people’s opinion – some experts say it’s the wrong approach, though.

2. Act like a professional business person

Be consistent: Post a new track once or twice per week.

Tags: Use tags of your track name (especially great if you cover popular songs), your artist name and genre (stick with one or two for all your songs).

Storytelling: Tell a story about yourself and your music in your profile and track description. Your story makes you stand out more. Build on your personality and music strengths.

3. What else do you need to know about SoundCloud for Musicians?

No need to despair – there is a way to master SoundCloud for musicians. Photo: Miriashikin, Concrete/Lotus: K&A

Can you sell your music on SoundCloud?

As SoundCloud says, it’s not possible to sell your music through SoundCloud directly. You can link to another service or online shop with a “buy” button. If you use a Pro account, you can change the button text to “donate” or something else.

Do artists make money on SoundCloud?

After years of not paying the artists SoundCloud’s CTO andCo-Founder Eric Wahlforss stated the platform would pay their most popular artists. If you’re just starting out, it might not be a relevant option for you.

How do you create your own music on SoundCloud?

You can either upload a ready track or record directly on the site. Click the “Upload” button (top right corner). Press “Start a new recording” and allow the access to your microphone. It will record a single track – so all sounds will be recorded together.

What is not possible on SoundCloud?

SoundCloud is no community

It is a streaming platform. Be aware not to find and build a strong community here.

You’ll have to try something unique

There are many musicians on SoundCloud who’ll probably doing similar things as you: Have great music online, tag, reach out to fans and other musicians. Be aware of this and experiment with new approaches. Try something unique and new – which you will definitely not find in online articles.

You won’t be able to contact many at once

Write more than 10 private messages per day. If you want to connect with musicians, make sure not to contact everybody on the same day. SoundCloud is very strict with spamming – make sure your networking is not seen as such.

You cannot record multi-track

You can record a single track but not multi-track. This is possible on DAW programs like Logic Pro, Cubase or Garage Band. Or with online resources such as sofasession.

You cannot collaborate

On SoundCloud, you can find musicians with a style you like. You cannot directly collaborate with them, though. Meet them on sofasession in a free online jam-session to explore your creativity together.

sofasession is an online community of musicians. You can find other musicians and directly make music with them online via sofasession.
Upload your own musical ideas, contribute to songs of other members and even play live with them over the internet. Become musically creative with sofasession. It’s super easy and free.